Meter and timing means



May 25, 1937. E. H. THOMPSON 2,031,311

METER AND TIMING MEANS Filed March 21, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 25, 1937. E. H. THOMPSON 2,081,311

METER AND TIMING MEANS Filed March 21, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 f nae-2217 507:-

'7 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. H. THOMPSON Filed March 21, 1935 May 25, 1937.

METER AND TIMING MEANS y 1937. E. H. THOMPSON 2,081,311

METER AND TIMING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 21, 1955 May 25, 1937.

E. H. THOMPSON 2,081,311

METER AND TIMING MEANS Filed March 21," 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 25, 1937.

E. H. THOMPSON METER AND TIMING MEANS Filed March 21, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 25, 1937. E. H. THOMPSON 2,081,311

METER AND TIMING MEANS Filed Maich 21, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicr.

METER AND TIMING MEANS Application March 21,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to meters, and has to do with a meter particularly suitable for use with a mechanism which is sold on the time payment plan, the agreed upon payments being effected by insertion of coins of proper value into the meter, the meter having associated therewith time measuring means in the nature of a clock or chronometer.

The meter of my invention is particularly suit able for use with electric refrigerators, though it may be used to advantage with various mechanisms. One of the objects of my invention is to provide a coin operated meter and associated time measuring means of comparatively simple l5 and compact construction, which is highly efficient and may be produced at relatively low cost. Further objects and advantages will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:-

Figure l is a front view of a meter and time measuring device embodying my invention,

mounted in a suitable casing;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the device;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 4 is a back View of the device with the door of the casing opened, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the mechanism of the device removed from the casing, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 5, with the signalling device and associated parts in the positions which they occupy when said device has been released for operation, parts being broken away;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism of Figure 6, parts being broken away;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, but with the signalling device and associated parts in their relative positions preliminary to setting the timing mechanism for releasing said device for operation at the end of a predetermined time period;

Figure 9 is a back view of the clockwork unit detached from the supporting plate of the meter and coin operated mechanism;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on line IDI0 of Figure 9, this view also showing the main supporting plate and the clock dial supporting plate fragmentarily and in section, parts being omitted for clearness of illustration and parts being 'shown in elevation;

Figure 11 is a section substantially on line ll il of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken substan- 1935, Serial No. 12,167

tially on line l2-I2 of Figure 5, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on line i3i3 of Figure 5.

The device of the instant application is similar to the meter disclosed and claimed in my c0- pending application for Meter, filed March 21, 1935, Serial No. 12,166, but in which I have associated with this meter, as part thereof, time measuring means and signal means controlled thereby.

In Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the device is illustrated on a scale less than actual size, in Figures 4 to 8, inclusive, the scale is considerably greater than actual size, for clearness of illustration, and in Figures 9, l0 and 11 the parts shown are drawn to actual size. The mechanism of the device is disposed within a suitable casing I, the back of which is normally closed by a hingedly mounted door 2 provided with a window 3 (Figure 2) for observation of the dial of the meter mechanism, as will be explained. The door is further provided with a key operated cylinder lock 4 of known type having an element disposed to engage in back of the forward arm 5a of a U- shaped bracket 5 spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to one side wall of the casing. Inner arm 5b of bracket 5 projects inwardly of easing I beyond arm 5a, and a bracket 6 is secured to the inner face of the other side wall of the casing. A supporting plate 1' fits within casing l and seats upon bracket 6 and arm 51) of bracket 5, this plate being secured to the brackets by screws 8, or in. any other suitable manner. The lower portion of plate I is cut away to accommodate a plate 9 of approximately L-shape in edge View, this plate 9 defining, with the adjacent portions of the bottom and side walls of the casing, a coin receptacle which receives the coins inserted into the meter, as will be later described.

A clockwise assembly it! (Figure 6) is suitably mounted on plate l at the back thereof. This assembly comprises a self-starting synchronous motor ii of known type, which, through a gear train l2, drives a pinion i3 at constant speed. This pinion projects through an opening I4 in plate i, and the front of the pinion is flush with the front face of a gear I5 with which the pinion meshes. Gear I5 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 16 (Figure 10) secured in plate I, and is disposed in front of a switch control lever I1 mounted for free turning movement on the stub shaft and confined between plate 'i and a slotted lock member l8, of known type, which engages into a circumferential groove in the stub shaft. A gear I! is secured on hub 23 of gear l6, in front of and spaced from the latter gear. Gear l6 meshes with a gear 2| rotatably mounted on a pin 22 carried by lever l1 and disposed remote from stub shaft l6. A pinion 23, secured to gear 2! at the front face thereof, meshes with a relatively large gear 24, rotatably mounted on stub shaft II in front of hub 20 of gears I5 and I3. Gear 2| and pinion 23 are driven in a counterclockwise direction, pinion 23 normally driving gear 24 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4.

Gear 24 is provided with a forwardly extending hub 26 on which is rotatably mounted a hub 26 upon which is secured a toothed wheel 21. A suitably graduated dial 26 is secured on the outer end of hub 26, and a pointer 29 is secured on the reduced outer end of hub 26 of gear 24, in front of and adjacent the outer end of hub 26, hubs 26 and 26 being thus held against appreciable relative endwise movement. A retaining member, conveniently a screw 30, is secured in the outer end of stub shaft l6 and overlies the forward end of hub 26, normally holding the latter against movement lengthwise of stub shaft l6 toward the forward or outer end thereof. The gear 24 and wheel 2'! and associated parts constitute a setting and controlling assembly normally held upon the stub shaft i6 by screw 30, which assembly can be removed from the stub shaft endwise thereof upon removal of the screw. Normally, gear 24 overlies gear 2i, as in Figure 4, and prevents outward movement of the latter on pin 22 while also preventing movement of gears l5 and i9 lengthwise of stub shaft I6 toward the outer or forward end of the latter. By removing the setting and controlling assembly from stub shaft l6, ready access is had to gears 2| and I9 and i6, which may then be removed and replaced with facility. In order to vary the timing of the mechanism, the unit comprising gears I5 and i9, and the unit comprising gear 2| and pinion 23, may be replaced by similar units in which the ratio between gears i9 and 2| is different from the ratio between these gears of the replaced units and of proper value to give the desired timing of the mechanism. After this adjustment has been effected, the controlling and setting assembly is replaced upon stub shaft I 6. This provides extremely simple means for adjusting the timing of the mechanism to suit requirements.

Lever i1 is provided, adjacent its free end, with a tongue 3|, struck forwardly therefrom and pro jecting into an opening 32 in plate i (Figure 4), this tongue cooperating with the bottom edge of opening 32 for limiting turning movement of the lever I! in clockwise direction on stub shaft [6. Normally, the lever ii is held in its extreme position in a. clockwise direction about the stub shaft, with tongue 3| in contact with the lower edge of opening 32, by a tension spring 33, the upper end of which is hooked through a tab 34 extending downward from the outer end of lever 11, the lower end of this spring being hooked through a tab 35 struck from plate 'i and projecting rearwardly thereof. Lever i1 is further provided with an arm 36 extending therefrom at an inclination downward and away from the outer end of the lever, the lower end of this arm being shaped to provide an upwardly projecting latch element 31. Arm 36 is provided, at its lower edge, with a rearwardly offset element 38 which forms with plate I a pocket for reception of an element of a setting pawl, hereinafter described in detail.

A setting lever ll, shaped as shown in Figure 4, is secured upon the reduced forward end of a sleeve 40, mounted for turning movement on a post 4| secured in plate I below arm 36 of lever H. A timer setting pawl 4I,'provided with a sleeve 43a, is mounted for turning movement about post 4|, on sleeve 40, and is confined between lever 39 and a washer 44 confined between lever 43 and a lock member 46 of known type engaging into a circumferential groove 46 in the post. Setting pawl 43 is provided, at the end thereof adjacent gear 2|, with two tabs 41 which project rearward from the pawl and converge toward wheel 21, these tabs defining a tooth element adapted for engagement between the teeth of the wheel. Pawl 43 is further provided, at its other end, with a rearwardly projecting tab 48 disposed to contact the following edges of the teeth of wheel 21, and cooperating with the tooth defined by tabs 41 for imparting clockwise rotation to wheel 21 in the setting of the mechanism for a predetermined time period of operation. Pawl 43 is provided with a stop finger 50 disposed to contact the lower face of a tab 5| projecting rearwardiy of lever 39 at the upper edge thereof. The central part of tab of is struck upwardly to provide a stud 52 which extends into the lower end of a compression coil spring 53, confined between tab 5! and a tab 54 projecting forwardly from the timer setting pawl 43 at the lower edge thereof. The central portion of tab 54 is struck downward to provide a stud 55 which extends into the upper end portion of spring 53. A tension spring 56 is attached at its upper end to tab 35 of plate 1, and has its lower end hooked through a tab 51 projecting rearwardly from lever 39 at the lower edge thereof. This tension spring normally holds lever 39 in such position that tab 5i thereof contacts the upper edge of finger 50 of the timer setting pawl 43, and retains the latter in such position that the tooth element defined by tabs 41 engages between two adjacent teeth of wheel 21 and locks the latter against rotation in either direction.

Wheel 21 is provided with a pin 60 secured k therein and projecting forwardly therefrom. This pin is disposed in advance of, and in the path of travel of. a pin 6| secured to and projecting rearwardly from gear 24, this latter pin traveling clockwise with the gear when the latter is driven. By operation of the timer setting pawl 43, wheel 21 is rotated step by step in a clockwise direction so as to advance pin 60 relative to pin 6|, thus predetermining the time period of operation of the mechanism controlled by the meter. Dial 28 turns with wheel 21 so as to move a suitably graduated scale 65 on the front face of the dial beneath pointer 25. Each graduation of this scale corresponds to the rotary movement of wheel 21 during one actuation of the pawl 43, due to insertion of a coin, so that the pointer and the scale indicate the number of coins which have been inserted and also provide means for determining the period of time for which the mechanism can operate before it becomes necessary to insert additional coins, that is, the remaining period of time during which the controlled mechanism is capable of being operated.

A coil spring 56, disposed about hubs 26 and 26, is confined under compression between gear 24 and wheel 21. This spring serves to prevent any objectionable endwise play between the parts of the controlling and setting mechanism, and also provides friction means for retarding rotation of wheel 21 so as to assure proper movement thereof in accordance with the operation of the timer setting pawl 43.

An arm 81 is pivotally mounted on a-stud 88 secured in plate I and projecting rearwardly therefrom adjacent wheel 21, and at the opposite side thereof from stud 4i. Stud 68 passes through arm 61 and through a tab 89 parallel with arm 61 and projecting from the rearward edge of a base plate I integral with the outer end of the arm. A T-shaped finger II projects from the upper end of plate I0 oppositely to arm 61. A pin I2 is secured through the lower end of plate and extends loosely through an opening I3 in member II of a movable switch arm I5. Member 14 is conveniently formed of strip metal and has its upper end slotted and loosely inserted beneath the head of the T-element II to permit of relative rocking movement between member 14 and element II. A compression coil spring I8 is disposed about pin I2 and confined between a flanged collar II seating against the outer face of member I4 and an abutment member 18 of known type, in the form of a slotted locking member which engages into a circumferential groove in the pin. Arm comprises a lower member I9, conveniently in the form of a strip of fiber, riveted or otherwise suitably secured to member H. A bridging contact member 80 is suitably mounted on the lower end of member IQ for limited rocking movement on an axis extending transversely thereof. The contact member 80 carries two contact points 8| disposed for contact with points 82 of cooperating contact members 83 and 84. when the switch arm is in 1 switch closing position. Members 83 and 84 are mounted on a supporting plate 85 of insulating material suitably secured to plate I and projecting downward therefrom. Binding posts 88 and 81 are suitably secured to the contact members 83 and 84, respectively, and project forwardly from the supporting plate 85.

A suitable electrical connecting device 850., in the form of a plug socket of known type, is mounted in a suitable manner in the lower portion of easing I adjacent and below the insulating supporting plate 85. An electrical cord or cable 88 extends into casing I through a suitable opening in the side wall thereof adjacent socket 85a, and is secured by a clamping device 89 of suitable type. This cord contains two Wires 98 and 9! which may be connected into the local or house circuit in a suitable manner, as by means of a plug cap'of known type cooperating with a plug socket member of the same general type as member 8511. The motor II, for driving the gear train i2 and the timing mechanism, is, as previously noted, of known type and includes a field winding or coil 95 (Fig. 6). The member 85a is intended for reception of the contact prongs of a plug cap of known type (not shown) attached to one end of a cord 98 (Figure 2) which extends into casing I through the same side thereof as cord 88. This provides simple and eiiicient means for establishing electrical connections between the control switch and a motor of the controlled mechanism, such as an electrical refrigerator.

Wire SI of cord 88 is connected to one terminal of member 85a, the other terminal of which is connected by a lead 99 to contact member 84. Wire 90 of cord 88 is connected to the other contact member 83, one end of the field winding of motor I I is connected to contact member 84, and the other terminal of the field winding of motor I I is connected by a lead IDI to the terminal of member 85a to which wire 8| is connected. It will be seen that, when switch arm I5 is in closed position, and the prongs of the plug cap are inserted into plug socket member 85a, the circuit of the field winding of motor I I is closed and this motor is continuously driven, and the circuit of the motor of the controlled mechanism is conditioned for operation of this latter motor, and that the circuits of both motors are opened when the switch arm I5 is in the open position of Fig. 4. These connections are illustrated and described in detail in my copending application, above referred to, and need not be further explained here.

Switch arm I5 is yieldingly urged into switch opening position by a wire spring I85 coiled about stud 68, one arm of this spring bearing against the inner face of plate I8 adjacent the lower end thereof, and the other arm of this spring bearing against a tab I08 struck from plate I and projecting rearwardly therefrom. Tab I06 also serves as a stop element for limiting the opening movement of arm I5, as shown in Figure 4.

Arm 61 is provided, at its inner end, with a notch I01 defining a latch element I08 adapted for cooperation with latch element 31 of arm 36 of lever I1, and is further provided, at its lower edge, with a notch forming an inclined edge I09.

LII)

A switch setting pawl IIII is pivoted at its lower end, at III, on the inner end of the setting lever 39. This pawl is provided, at its upper end, with a relatively long finger I I2 and a short finger I I3, the latter being disposed to contact edge I88 of arm 61 upon upward movement of pawl IIIl, when lever I1 is in its normal lowered position. Finger II2 extends into the pocket defined by element l 38 of arm 36 and plate I, and is yieldingly held in contact with the lower edge of arm 36 by a wire spring II5 disposed about tab 51, one arm of which spring contacts the lower edge of a tab I I6 projecting rearwardly from the outer edge of pawl III], the other arm of spring II5 engaging about sleeve 40.

Setting lever 39 is provided, at its outer end, with a rearwardly extending tab I which projects through an opening I2I in plate I into a coin chute I23 secured to the back of plate I (Fig. 5), the tab I20 extending across the chute from front to back thereof so as to intercept a coin passing through the chute. Coin chute I23 is preferably flared at its upper end, as shown, and is disposed in register with slot I24 of a plate I25 (Fig. 3) suitably secured to the top wall of easing I. The coin chute is of suitable size for reception of 25 pieces or quarters, and shaped to direct an inserted coin into contact with tab I28, upon which the coin rests edgewise so as to be disposed mainly above tab I 20 and confined between this tab and the remote side wall of chute An operating lever I28 (Fig. 5) is pivoted at one end on the front of supporting plate 'I. At its other end lever I28 is provided with a rearwardly projecting pin I30 (Fig. 4) which projects through an arcuate slot I320, intersecting coin chute I23, this slot being aligned with a similar slot I32 in plate I. An operating rod I33 (Figure 5) is suitably attached adjacent its lower end to lever I28. The other end of rod I33 extends into an elongated button I35, slidable through the top wall of casing I and provided at its lower end with a flange I35 which cooperates with this wall for limiting upward movement of the rod..

In Figure 4, pointer 29 is at the zero position on scale 00, gear 34 is locked against rotation by contact of pin II with pin 00, and lever II has been raised by the planetary action of pinion 23 travelling around gear 24, releasingarm l1 and permitting movement of switch arm I0 into its open position by spring III.

In order to close the control switch, a coin is inserted into the coin chute 23, after which the button 35 is depressed, thus swinging the operating lever I20 downward so as to bring pin I30 into contact with the coin and force the latter downward in the chute, from the lower end of which it passes through a slot 0a in member 0 into the coin receptacle. This downward movement of the coin swings the outer end of setting lever 30 downward since the coin rests upon tab I20 of lever 30, as previously stated, with resulting upward movement of the inner end of this lever and turning movement of the setting pawl 43 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4. Tab 40 of pawl 43 is moved into position in advance of a tooth of wheel 21, and immediately thereafter the tooth defined by tabs 41 of the pawl 43 is disengaged from the wheel 21. This permits slight clockwise rotation of the controlling and setting assembly, and return of lever II to its normal lowered position, by the action of tension spring 33. Finger II3 of pawl IIIi then contacts edge I03 of arm 81 so as to move this arm upward and, at about the same time, finger 40 of pawl 43 contacts the following edge of a tooth of wheel 21 so as to rotate the same in a clockwise direction. In the continued upward movement of pawl IIO, arm 61 is raised, thus moving the switch arm into switch closing position, and the inner end of arm 61 contacts the lower end of arm 36, swinging lever I! a short distance in a counterclockwise direction against the tension of spring 33 until latch element I00 of arm 81 passes above latch element 31 of arm 35, at which time lever I! is again returned to its lowermost position with a snap action by tension spring 33 so as to engage latch element 3'! beneath latch element I00, thus locking the switch arm 15 in closed position. If thereafter lever 33 is actuated to move pawl IIO upward, arm 61 may be raised slightly, this being permitted by the loose and resilient connections between arms 51 and I5, previously referred to, but arm 51 is retained in switch closing position so long as lever I I remains in its lowered position. This closes the circuit of motor II, setting the meter in operation, and conditions the circuit of the motor of the controlled mechanism for operation.

when the coin passes beyond tab I of lever 33, this lever is returned to its normal position by tension spring 56. In the return movement of the lever 39, the tabs 41 of pawl 43 engage between two adjacent teeth of wheel 21, advancing it the remaining one-half of a space of the scale 65, and then looking the wheel 21 against rotation. In this manner, the wheel 21 is advanced one full space of the scale upon insertion of a coin. Likewise, the wheel 21 is advanced a corresponding distance for the insertion of each additional coin,

it being noted that the scale 65 is provided with twenty-two spaces and the mechanism is intended for reception of twenty-two coins inserted one immediately after the other. It is possible, however, to advance the dial a further distance of one space before pin thereof contacts pin 0| of gear 24, after twenty-two coins have been inserted, so that the maximum capacity of the meter, at a single setting thereof, starting at zero, is twenty-three coins.

After closing of the control switch in the manner described, this switch will remain closed for a predetermined period of time, depending upon the number of coins inserted, this number and the time during which the switch will remain closed being indicated by the pointer 20 and scale 05. When the pointer 20 again reaches the zero position on the scale '5, gear 34 will be locked against rotation by contact of pin I of this gear with pin 00 of wheel 21, at which time pinion 23 will travel around gear 24 in a counterclockwise direction, thus raising lever I1 and disengaging latch element 31 of arm 30 from latch element I00 of arm 01, releasing the latter arm and permitting of switch arm 15 being moved into open position by spring I05.

The clockwork I0 includes, as a part of the supporting structure thereof, a plate I31 disposed in parallel spaced relation to the main supporting plate I of the mechanism. A bracket I30, shaped as shown in Figures 5, 9 and 10, is seecured to the back of plate I31 and projects therefrom toward chute I23. This bracket is offset rearwardly from plate Ill-and supports a gear wheel I39 which meshes with a pinion I40 secured to shaft I on which the pinion I3 is secured. Gear wheel I38 also meshes with a pinion I42 secured on a shaft I43 rotatably supported in bracket I30, and in a bracket I44 struck from a plate I45 at the front of clockwork I0, from which plate bracket I44 projects rearwardly as shown. Plate I45 supports, at the front face thereof, a clock dial I45 disposed in alignment with a window I41 in the front wall oi casing I. as shown in Figure 1, so as to be viewed through this window, the numbers of this dial ing arranged reversely to the order in which the numbers ordinarily appear on a clock dial.

A minute hand I48 is suitably attached to the forward end of the hub of a pinion I49 disposed at the back of a gear I50, to the forward end of the hub of which is suitably attached an hour hand I5I, the hub of gear I50 projecting through plate I45 and dial I46, and the hub of pinion I48 projecting through and forwardly beyond the hub of gear I50. Pinion I 49 is frictionally'clutohed to shaft I43 by clutch means I52 of known type. Pinion I43 and gear I50 have relative rotation, and are geared together through a gear wheel I53 rotatabiy mounted on the back of plate I45 and meshing with pinion I48, and a pinion I54 rigid with gear wheel I53 and meshing with gear wheel I50. The gear ratio between pinion I49 and gear wheel I50 is 1 to 12, so that the hour hand I5i moves through one major space of the dial for each complete rotation of minute hand I43, as in clocks of conventional type. manner of securing the hands I43 and |5I upon the hubs of pinion I49 and gear wheel I50, spectively, is that ordinarily employed in clock construction, and clutch I52 is also of a type gltiimmonly used in clocks of ordinary construe Gear wheel I53 also meshes with a relatively large gear wheel I54a secured on a shaft I55, rotatably mounted in plate I45 and a bracket I58 secured to the back of this plate. The gear ratio between pinion I49 and gear I54a is 1 to 12, so that gear I54a is turned through one complete rotation in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, for each twelve complete to tations of pinion I43 and minute hand I40. A bevel gear I51 is mounted on shaft I and attached to gear wheel I54a at the back thereof III] and for rotation therewith. The upper end of bracket I56 is bent downward to provide a forwardly extending flange I58, through which isv slidably mounted a setting rod I59 upon which is secured a beveled setting pinion I60, disposed to mesh with bevel gear I51 when rod I59 is depressed. This rod is normally held in raised position by a coil compression spring I6I disposed about the lower portion of the rod and con fined between pinion I60 and flange I58. The lower end of the rod is slightly spread or enlarged to prevent upward movement of the rod beyond the position shown in Figure 6. A sleeve I 62, provided at its upper end with a knurled head I63, is slidable through the top wall of casing I and has a friction fit over'the upper portion of rod I59. This sleeve is provided, at its lower end, with two diametrically opposite notches, which receive the end portions of a pin I64 secured through rod I59, for establishing a positive connection between the sleeve and the rod. By depressing sleeve I62, rod I59 is moved downward so as to bring pinion I60 into mesh with bevel gear I51, which may then be rotated in proper direction and to desired extent by turning sleeve I62, thus imparting similar and equal rotation to gear wheel I54a.

A pintle rod I65 has its rearward end suitably secured in bracket I38, from which it extends forwardly above gear wheel I54, the forward end of this rod seating in a recess in vertical arm I66a of an L-shaped bracket I'66 secured to the rear face of plate I45, adjacent the top thereof, the upper horizontal arm I66b of this bracket slidably receiving and guiding the setting rod I59. Rod I65 passes through the lower ends of two tabs 161 formed integrally with, and depending from the outer end of, an arm I68, at the front and the rear edges thereof. Arm I68 is thus rockably mounted on rod I65, and this arm is yieldingly urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, by a tension coil spring I69 disposed about rod I65, one end of this spring engaging over the upper edge of bracket I38 (Figure and the other end of this spring engaging about the forward edge of the rearward tab I61.

A shaft I is mounted in plate I31a of the clock-work and plate I45, adjacent the upper edges thereof, and receives a sleeve "I which is mounted on shaft I10 for relative turning movement and is slidable lengthwise of the shaft. Sleeve III is provided at its rearward end with a cam I12 having a rearwardly extending hub I13 in which is secured a screw I14. This screw is engaged by one end of a coil spring I15, disposed about shaft I10 and confined between hub I13 of the cam and plate I31a, with one edge of which the other end of the spring engages. This spring I acts under tension to yieldingly urge sleeve HI and cam I12 toward plate I45, and also acts by torsion to yieldingly urge the cam I12 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8. A hook member I16 is secured to arm I68, adjacent the inner end thereof and depends therefrom, the bill portion of this hook member being disposed to engage beneath shaft I10 and limit upward movement of the inner end of arm I68, as in Figure 6. A button I11-is slidable through the top wall of easing I and contacts the portion of hook member I16 secured through arm I68, this button being provided at its lower end with a flange, as indicated in Figures 6 and 8, which flange is effective to prevent withdrawal of the button from the casing.

A trip arm I18 is secured to the forward end of sleeve HI, and extends downward therefrom so as to be disposed in the path of travel of a trip pin I19 secured to gear wheel I54a and projecting rearwardly therefrom, when sleeve I1I is in its forward position. Upward movement of arm I18, under the influence of spring I15, beyond the position of this arm shown in Figure8, is prevented, by a suitably disposed stop pin I80 secured to plate I45 and projecting rearward therefrom.

A buzzer arm I8I is pivoted, by means of tabs I82 integral therewith, upon a post I83 of the clockwork I0. Arm I8I is provided, at the inner end thereof, with an upwardly projecting flange I84, and is urged upward by a wire spring I85 disposed about post I83, one end of this spring being engaged over the rearward edge of arm I 8I and extending therebeneath, the other end of the spring contacting the forward portion of the casing of motor II, or any other convenient element of the clock-work. The arm I8I is further provided with an arcuate extension I86, which extends beyond post I 83 oppositely to the arm and is disposed substantially concentric with and in proximity to the outer portion of the casing of motor I I, in which portion of the casing field coil 95 of the motor is disposed, as shown in Figure 6. Normally, cam I 12 is in contact with the upper edge of flange I64 so as to depress the inner end of arm I6I and hold element I86, which is formed of magnetic material, outwardly away from the casing of motor II a proper distance to prevent appreciable vibration of element I86 by the magnetic field produced by fiow of alternating current through the field coil of the motor. By turning cam I12 a short distance in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 6 and. 8, from the position of Figure 8 into the position of Figure 6, shoulder I12a of the cam I12 is moved outwardly beyond flange I84 of arm I8I, permitting the latter to be raised by spring I85 and positioning buzzer element I86 in close proximity to the circumferential wall of the motor casing, as in Figure 6. When thus disposed, element I 86 is within the magnetic field of coil 95 and is rapidly vibrated, functioning as a buzzer and producing an audible signal. This turning of cam I12, for releasing arm I 8| is effected by means of trip pin I19 contacting trip arm I18 in the counterclockwise rotation of gear I54, as viewed in Figure 6, at which time the parts of the arm release mechanism are disposed as shown in this figure. When pin I19 isin contact with trip arm I18, as shown, hands I48 and I5I are both at zero position on the clock dial I46.

In order to stop operation of the alarm, setting arm I68 is moved downward from the position of Figure 6, by means of button I 11, so as to bring a setting and cam finger I88, depending from the inner end of arm I68, into contact with arm I 8| so as to depress the inner end thereof and move flange I84 downward beyond cam I12. Finger I88 is inclined upward and rearward toward arm I68, as shown in Figure 7, and in its downward movement contacts cam I12 and shifts the same rearwardly sufficiently so that arm I18 clears pin I19. As soon as the trip arm clears the trip pin, cam I12 is turned by spring I15 in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 6 and 8, through a distance limited by contact of arm I18 with stop pin I80, after which the inner end of arm I8I is held depressed by cam I12 so as to hold the buzzer element I86 in its outer inoperative position, as shown in Figure 8. The slight counterclockwise movement of trip arm I'll, with cam I'll and sleeve l'll, disposes the lower portion of this arm in back of trip pin Ill in overlying relation thereto. Upon release of setting arm Ill, this arm and button I'll are returned to their normal positions, and cam I12 and sleeve I'll are returned to their normal forward position by the spring Ill, at which time trip arm I'll is in contact with the rearward end of pin Ill and is under slight tension. when it is desired to set the signal or alarm means for operation at the end of a predetermined time, gear Illa is rotated in proper direction to bring hands Ill and Ill of the timing means into zero position on the dial, thus bringing the trip pin I'll into zero position, shown in Figure 6, after which setting arm I 88 is momentarily depressed so as to stop operation of the buzzer, as above explained. After release of the arm Ill, trip arm Ill and cam I'll occupy the positions shown in Figure 8, and trip pin I19 remains in zero position, arm I'll being placed under tension by the forward movement of cam I12 and sleeve I'll. Betting gear Ill is then turned in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, so as to turn the hands Ill and Ill in counterclockwise direction over the dial, as viewed in Figure 1, setting the timing mechanism for operation of the alarm at the desired time. When pin I'll passes from beneath arm I'll, this arm is moved forward, by its resiliency, so as to be disposed in the path of travel 0! the pin in its return movement. Assuming that the timing mechanism has been set for operation of the alarm at the end of 46 minutes, as shown in Figure 1, the pin I'll will be moved a corresponding distance in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, from its zero position shown in this figure. At the end of the time for which the timing mechanism is set, pin I19 will contact trip arm I" and move the latter in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, thus moving cam I12 into the position shown in Figure 6 and permitting operation of the alarm, as previously described.

A gear stop pin Ill, secured to dial plate I" and projecting rearwardly therefrom, is disposed in the path of travel of the forward end of trip pin I'll, which pin projects forwardly of gear wheel Illa, as shown in Figure 11, so that pin I'll contacts pin Ill when it reaches zero position. This prevents rotation of gear wheel Illa in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, in which direction this gear wheel is driven by the clockwork, beyond the position shown in Figure 8. Momentarily depressing setting arm Ill raises the buzzer or alarm element Ill into inoperative position, as previously described, and the buzzer cannot be again released for operation so long as gear wheel I54 remains in zero position. This eil'ectively prevents operation of the alarm except at the end of a predetermined time for which the timing mechanism may be set. when the gear wheel Illa is thus held against rotation by the clockwork, the clutch I52 permits slippage between shaft I43 and pinion I49 in a known manner, the clockwork continuing to be driven by motor ll thereof.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention is discl sed.

What I claim is:-

1. In combination, a synchronous electric motor, signal means comprising a pivoted arm yieldingly urged toward operative position, said arm being provided at one end with a magnetic element disposed in the magnetic field of the motor to be actuated thereby, in the operative position of said arm, a cam normally disposed in rotary position to contact the other end of said arm and hold it in inoperative position with said magnetic element in inoperative position, yielding means normally holding the cam in said normal rotary position and in one axial position, a trip arm rigid with the cam and having limited turning movement in one direction for preventing turning of said cam in said direction beyond normal position, clock means, driving connections between said clock means and said motor comprising a slip clutch, a gear driven in one direction by the clock means, a pin projecting from said gear, said trip arm being normally disposed in the path of travel of said pin and cooperating therewith for turning the cam and releasing the arm of said signal means, means for rotating said gear in the other direction and thereby setting said clock means correspondingly to the extent of such rotation of said gear, means for preventing rotation of said gear in said one direction beyond tripping position, and means for turning said signal arm into inoperative position and shifting the cam axially out of normal position, thereby releasing said trip arm from said pin.

2. In combination, a synchronous electric motor, signal means comprising a pivoted arm provided at one end with a magnetic element positionable in the magnetic field of said motor to be actuated thereby, when said arm is turned in one direction, means yieldingly urging said arm in said direction, means for turning said arm in the other direction and for holding said element in inoperative position, clock means comprising a dial graduated from an initial point in hours and minutes and an hour hand and a minute hand movable over said dial, driving connec' tions between said clock means and said motor comprising a slip clutch, a member driven in one direction by said clock means, means for moving said member in the opposite direction and correspondingly setting the clock means, trip means actuated by said member in its travel in said one direction for releasing said arm when said member reaches a position corresponding to initial position of said hands on said dial, means preventing travel of said member beyond such position, and means for releasing said trip means and returning said arm to position to hold said magnetic element in inoperative position.

3. In combination, a synchronous electric motor, signal means comprising a vibratable magnetic element disposable in the magnetic field of the motor to be actuated thereby, means normally holding said element in inoperative position, clock means comprising a dial and two hands movable over the dial at different uniform rates in the relative ratio of one to twelve, said dial being graduated to indicate hours and minutes from a zero point thereon, driving connections between said clock means and said motor comprising a slip clutch, a gear driven in one direction by the clock means, means for rotat' ing said gear in the other direction for setting said clock means, means for releasing said magnetic element and moving it into operative position when said gear has been turned by said clock means into such position that both of said hands are at zero position on the dial, and means for holding said gear against turning in said one direction beyond such position and for preventing movement of said hands for maintaining them in zero position.

4. In combination, a synchronous electric mo tor, signal means comprising a. vibratabie magnetic element disposable in the magnetic field of the motor to be actuated thereby, means normally holding said element in inoperative position, clock means comprising a dial and two hands movable over the dial at different uniform rates in the relative ratio of one to twelve, said dial being graduated to indicate hours and minutes from an initial point thereon, driving connections between said clock means and said motor comprising a slip clutch, a rotatable member positively geared to said hands and driven by said clock means in one direction, means for rotating said member in the other direction for setting said clock means, means for releasing said magnetic element and moving it into operative position when said member has been turned by said clock means into such position that both of said hands are at the initial point on the dial, and means for preventing turning of said member in said one direction beyond such position thereby maintaining said hands in said initial position.

ERNEST H. THOMPSON. 

